Mandeville abuzz with activity - Businesses face challenges as Christmas nears

Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

WITH ONLY one day to go before Christmas, Mandeville is buzzing with activities.

Vendors have taken over every available space on the town's sidewalks to display their goods. Shoppers are also crowding the stores and parking spaces have become a prized commodity.

The Manchester Parish Council mounted its Christmas tree in the heart of the town last week, during a brief ceremony headed by Custos Gilbert Allen and Mayor Brenda Ramsay.

Up to earlier this week, businesses had not bothered to put up the lavish Christmas lights that were the centre of attraction in years gone by, with many opting not to do anything to mark the season, citing the high cost of electricity as the main deterrent.

Many challenges

President of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association and businessman, Trevor Heaven, said earlier this week that he was hoping for "bumper" sales in the last days leading up to New Year's Day. Heaven said businesses were facing many challenges which are affecting their operation negatively, forcing some to seek additional overdrafts from banks or source new capital injection.

He said the cost of electricity was the main challenge, followed by fuel and security costs. Heaven, however, said all was not "gloom and doom", as there are signs that the expected last-minute shopping spree would make up for the sluggish start of the season.

The management of Brumalia Hardware, one of the parish's oldest business entities, is striking a happier note, telling The Gleaner that there were indications that this year will be better.

Meanwhile, president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Keith Smith, is optimistic that sales would be better than last year. He pointed to the large number of vendors taking up positions on the streets of the parish's major towns. These vendors, he said, purchased their goods from wholesalers, who purchased from distributors. This, he said, gives everyone the opportunity to make some money.

Meanwhile, councillor for the New Green division, McArthur Collins, said he was not satisfied with the level of civic pride shown by many of the business operators in Mandeville. He told The Gleaner he was disappointed that no effort was made by the business community to beautify the areas surrounding their business places.